Soirée Parfaite

NEW WEBSITE!!!

2009-08-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

Please visit my new website: www.soireeparfaite.com for my blog and more!

One Year Anniversary

2009-08-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

Here it is! My one year anniversary in Oslo!!! I cannot believe a year has gone by. I am very happy at the progress I have made this year; what I have learned about myself, friendship, marriage, family and my career. It is incredible to experience so much change and survive! :) Thank you so much to my husband, my Oslo family- especially Ragna and Steph, Kirsty, Susy, Karen, Bethany and all my newest girlies. It has been a pleasure figuring this place out with you!

Lovin' Leopard (Leslie Getting Married 2.0)

2009-07-29T04:09:00.000-07:00

Leslie and Yashaar have set the date for May 2010! She has already booked a gorgeous venue in Palm Springs and now she is checking and gathering inspiration from every wedding blog, site and book imaginable! She sent me a few links and I just died over a few of them. One to note was from Style Me Pretty a site with an infinite number of ideas!
We loved some of the color combinations that bride´s have submitted. This peacock inspired page definitely caught my eye. Gorgeous detail like the lime centerpieces (easier on the budget than flowers!) I also love a bright or printed shoe detail. The Sex and The City Manolos are perfect! These colors are perfect for the vibrant, summer bride.
As we move into Fall it inspires me to experiment with some darker, velvety textures, flowers and themes. I am always a huge fan of animal prints and exotic leathers: leopard, cheetah, python, zebra. And I am excited to report that I will not be alone this year. Leopard is "in" full force. So here is my inspiration board for a party with leopard influences.

Photo du Jour

2009-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ahh Miss Diane Kruger is stunning again! She looked phenomonal last night at the permiere of Inglourious Basterds. She was just dazzling. I loved the matte red lip; a look I am desperately trying to achieve before Fall!
I also love her simple, yet chic hair style with the visible bobby pins. This is something I can handle. If you need me I will be at home practicing the hair and the never-smeared lips.
Images from popsugar.com

Set the Mood.

2009-07-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

The flowers have been delivered, the linens pressed, the menu set and the table is half-way to looking like you live at a Michelin restaurant. You are about to pour your glass of wine and -oh god- we don't have music! Well here are my top ten pics for some moody dinner music:

1) Please Don't Leave Me, Pink. New chart topper, we hostesses have to be relevant to the time!
2) God Only Knows, The Beach Boys. What can I say I am a California girl!
3) Ooh Wee and Valerie, Mark Ronson. It's easy and sexy.
4) A Change is Gonna Come, Seal. His whole new album Soul is perfect for dinner.
5) The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra. You have to include this one, even if you only play it for yourself!
6) This Woman´s Worth, Maxwell. An old fav, sad but so romantic.
7) You've Got The Love, The Source ft Candi Stanton. Sex and the City Finale, American in Paris, Part Deux. You get it.
8)My Love is Your Love, Whitney Houston.
9) She Wolf, Shakira. Can't help it, its a new good one.
10) Knock You Down, Keri Hilsen with Kanye West & Ne-Yo

Another great tool is the celebrity playlist feature on itunes. Go ahead stalk your favorite celeb and copy them!

Bon appetit!

Summer Wines

2009-07-20T23:20:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about living in a climate that has seasons is that you can really appreciate different wines at all times of the year. Although you can drink a full-bodied red at anytime, there is something special about white in the summer and red when it is cold and snowy outside.

Here are some of my favorites for this summer:

1) Ca'bertaldo Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Brut (121 NOK) Deilig!!! 100% Prosecco grape. Light in gold color, fresh, apple, pear, tropical fruit, nice finish. A perfect summer apéritif. From the Veneto region.

2) Montresor Soave Classico 2008 (114 NOK) Very Fresh, consume now- don't save! (Love that!) Light minerality with tastes of crisp nectarine, touch of orange and nut- perhaps peanut or almond.

3) Corte Giara Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso 2007 (129 NOK) The name is a mouthful, but it is worth it to get to the wine. Drink now until 2011. Very light, sturdy, yet soft with ice cream hints (?!). When you drink it, you'll get it. It is very nice and reasonably priced. Also, from the Veneto region where the wines are processed twice!

4) Leitz Rüdesheimer Bischofsberg Riesling Spätlese Trocken 2008 (136 NOK) Not your typical Riesling! Interesing and dry. Pale yellow in color, a well balanced white with a floral nose, honeyed aromas of lime, lemon and spice.

5) Domaine de Tariquet le Rosé 2008 (100 NOK) Cheap and drinkable! Clean, fresh, tasting of blueberry, cherry and raspberry.

Skål!

Sister's San Diego Wedding

2009-07-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

My sisters' wedding was so lovely and perfectly suited her and D. She looked amazing and they looked so happy. It was a really fun party and I think everyone had a great time. Soirée Parfaite did some of the last minute details- escort cards and table cards. And my sister was really happy with them. Unfortunately, I was too busy being there for the bride and forgot to take pictures. Typical me. So I have to wait for the professional shots!

Here are some teasers (excuse the quality!)

Holiday!

2009-06-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Now I am really taking a holiday! Taking the next week off to cruise California with the hubby. But, this is what he did while I was in Palm Springs. Gorgeous picture by a family friend! Christopher surfing in Sunny San Diego. See you all back in Norway! xx

Leslie Getting Married!!!

2009-06-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to report that my best friend Leslie, from Los Angeles got engaged! TODAY! In New York! At our favorite little cafe in TriBeCa called Pecan. You cannot tell how cute it is by their website, but it is really fab.

Congrats L and Y! Looking forward to celebrating in 2010.

Ok, have to get back to my sister and her bachelorette in Palm Springs! Party!

Primp Parfait

2009-06-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for summer parties can happen on a daily basis if you play your cards right. People love the grilling season, season of sun and rosé wines. Here are some of my favorite things for keeping myself primed and primed for summer soirées.

1. Nails: My friend Leslie introduced me to Baby's Breath from Essie: a baby white pink, perfect for a clean natural nail. I love to put one coat of Baby's Breath on the bottom and one coat of Mademoiselle for a perfect nude pink.

2. Lips: Loving Laura Mercier's Lip Glacé in Baby Pink this year. It is a perfect soft-pink with medium coverage, simmer and high pearl, high shine.

3. Hair: My stylist in California recommended for perfect summer waves mix two Bumble and Bumble products. They add body and texture while adding a certain amount of slick control to keep fly aways and frizz at bay.

4. Skin: I have been taking care of my summer skin with Clarins Sun Line for years. My favorite after sun product is the After Sun Moisturizer- Ultra Hydrating. It smells decicious and prolongs your your tan. If you pair this with a Sunscreen Spray for the parties during the day you will never burn and keep a golden tan as long as Norwegianly possible! Dust a shimmer powder over your cheeks, shoulders chest to really shine (this one is Bobbi Brown). If you are really lucky you can find them all in duty free!

5. Scent- This is one of the most important pieces of summer! Its time to wear some girlie scents and smell like roses, citrus and powders. For summer I love L'Artisian La Chasse aux Papillons (super girlie, floral, citrus) and also Mimosa pour Moi which is clean and fresh (mimosa flower! not the champagne cocktail! ;)...) I am also dying to get a whiff of Hugo Boss' newest fragrance Orange Boss due out in July.

Images by essie.com, bumbleandbumble.com, barneys.com, boss-fragrances.com

Monograms

2009-06-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Monograms are a small thing that can add an important touch to a party. For weddings they can be a beautiful way to use a theme through out the wedding events- save the dates, invitations, programs, menus, flowers, favors, the list can go on. Here are some of my favorite images of monograms from weddings.

Monograms can also be used to personalize a birthday party, anniversary or baby shower/debut party. Use the guest of honor as your muse and get to work!

Pure Pink Lust

2009-06-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

I don't even know anyone who owns this. But I want to own it. It went on sale and everything! Its gorgeous and it would g with everything, I think I would figure out a way to wear it everyday. Thank you Mr. Elbaz and Barneys.

White Haute Wedding

2009-06-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

My dear friends K and A got married this weekend and it gorgeous. I am so glad I flew over for it- would not have missed it for anything! She looked perfect, every detail was thought of and covered and it was a beautiful quintessential American wedding. I loved it!

We cruised the LA harbor for the rehearsal dinner and luckily we had a whale sighting! Very exciting for LA. Unfortunately, I have not been blogger minded and forgot to take a picture!

Saturday the new Mr. and Mrs. Whitney got married at St. Monica's in Santa Monica and then the reception was at The Fairmont Santa Monica. Check out the photos below- she didn't forget a single white detail, right down to the all white candy bar!

Table of honor for the bride, groom and bridal party:

Candy table!:
And just for fun a picture of the gorgeous bride! (photo rights to Leslie on this one. I stole it from her facebook :) )

Photo du Jour

2009-06-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

Arrived in California and have not had much happen yet. BUT I will say that High School graduations in the United States are a much bigger deal than Norway. Had to grab this picture. This is the graduation of a small, private high school in the Los Angeles area. Tented, processional, man with kilt and bag pipes, sat for almost two hours, about 1,000 people watching. I flew in from Norway. Enough said.

Wedding Season Commences!

2009-06-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

The hubby and I kicked off Wedding Season 2009 with a gorgeous wedding in Geneva, Switzerland. It was the wedding of our two great friends, Z and Z. We started the weekend with a gorgeous dinner at a traditional Swiss restaurant and drinks afterwards. So much fun!

Friday was spent trouisting around and then the rehearsal dinner at Château du Rosey, a gorgeous vineyard just outside of Geneva with about sixty of the guests. They served a nine course tasting menu with wines to match. Incredible... Here is the vineyard and the table settings, which were elegant and simple. (My favorite style!)

The wedding day was even better than the other two! Can you imagine ;-). The insanely attractive couple tied the knot at the Saint-Pierre Cathedral which was breathtaking!

Then we all went to Parc Des Eaux-Vives for cocktails, dinner and dancing. It had a sweeping, rolling hill from the restaurant to the lake. (deep sigh!)

Congrats to the happy couple and thank you for such a great weekend!

Envy, Not The WORST Deadly Sin...

2009-05-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Of all the deadly sins, I think I struggle the most with envy. Although what I envy could also fall into the lust and/or greed category as well. I am sure you know where I am going with this. These Miss Clichy boots are topping my Envy List right now. They are perfect for the Fall '10 version of me!

P.S. I think wrath and sloth are WAAAAAYYY worse.

Mac'd Out.

2009-05-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

I did it! I bought a new Mac and I LOOOOVE it. It is so pretty and white and fast. I was very concered that it would be very frustrating to learn and switch from PC to an Apple, but it was so easy. Plus, I look so much cooler at my meetings at United Bakeries and Kaffebrenneriet. You know I do. I just want to keep learning and keep up with technology. No one wants to be the old lady at the office who doesn't know how to send an email or use her phone!

Now the Mac just needs a name...

Elements of Style

2009-05-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

I love to read other blogs. I have about 20 that I follow on a daily basis and several that I check up on periodically. Most of my favorites are American, but there are so many more internationals to discover. Don't worry as I unturn them i will pass along the info! This girl is one of my favorite blogger: Erin Gates of Boston, MA. She is an interior designer and blogs DAILY. Amazing. I can barely pull it together twice a week. I love some of the pieces she finds and some of her "designer crushes". And we share our passion for a bit of animal in every room. Check her out!

www.elementsofstyleblog.com

Here are two shots of her house, just as a little taster:

Need a Holiday!

2009-05-14T04:54:00.000-07:00

It has been nice(nicer) weather recently, but I am dreaming of a trip to the sun and the sand. My sister is finalizing her wedding plans and honeymoon destination. So, if I were planning another one this might be where I was off to this week...

Matangi Private Island Resort, Fiji, absolutely ridiculous. Where can I sign up? This serene beach looks so private, warm and sunny.

Here are my chairs, waiting for me seaside:

And here is the romantic, perfectly lit waterside dining. My bags are half packed...

It looks almost as fabulous as Mirihi, where we spent our real honeymoon. Highly recommended if you are into luxury, relaxation, sun and sand. Not sure if you like that kind of thing ;-).

Only a few more weeks and I am off to the beaches of LA!

Love, this!

2009-05-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note about fabulous invitations: a brilliant calligrapher is a must it can add even more style to the guest's first impression. They can be hard to find and add a little expense to the overall cost, but oh the difference it makes! This calligrapher Love,Jenna is based in New York, but will do special projects! I would love to have an excuse to work with her!

Center of Attention

2009-05-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Simple, chic arrangements can add everything to a table. I love some of these for all different types of events and table arrangements for your summer soirée.
These small, compact bouquets are perfect for small groups or long tables filled with candles.

These arrangements are perfect for larger groups or when you just cannot decide on your favorite flower! You can also do this with variations of color. I especially love the three vases for each table.

These two ideas are perfect for adding some color and saving on cost. You can find some great vases in all colors and then use a flower that is is season- a great way to get some pink in a Winter wedding for example! I especially love the decorated vases, easily could be made with some fancy paper.

These simple arrangements are perfect so your guests can chat away but you get height and design through out the room. Love these!

Finally, these are gorgeous arrangements for an outdoor soirée! The hortensia/ hydrangea is simple and can be saved for ages. The tulips are the perfect summer flower and these shabby chic vases make them look even flawless.

All images from theknot.com

Glam Gal's Gala

2009-05-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

Last year I was sitting at the Carlyle Hotel's Bemelman's Ba r with my best friend, we could not resist a peak at the exclusive crowd in fancy frocks sneaking at quick drink before the fashion party of the year: The Met's Costume Institute Gala. This year, I am looking achingly from afar at pictures online. But, I am still enjoying (and not enjoying) some of the choices!

The Costume Institute Gala is the creme de la creme of the fashion world and their guests. Since the theme was "Model as a Muse", most of the designers were escorted by lanky goregous women.

I thought some of the stunners were Heidi Klum (of course), Ivanka Trump, Marion Cotillard, Eva Herzigova and Gisele Bundchen. There were so many glam gals in perfect party dresses! Check it out on style.com for yourself, click the photo below.

Image from fabsuar(dot)com

Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo. Possibly one of the best holidays ever, even though it seems like it is more celebrated in the US than Mexico. Coming from Southern California, this was always a holiday we "observed" in school. We learned the Mexican Hat Dance, ate tacos, chips and salsa. Later it turned into another reason to have a party, eat tacos, chips and salsa and drink Corona. Norwegians have never heard of this "holiday". I feel so sorry for them. So in rememberance of the Battle of Puebla here are some ideas for hosting your own Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.

Color is a necessity for your fiesta. Think bright: teal, pink, lime green, yellow, orange! You can send invitations on a blank piece of paper in one of these colors and with an envelope in another color. Mix-and- match for all of your guests.

CRASH COURSE IN MARGARITAS: The perfect marg is not from the mix. To make a high quality margarita you need high quality tequila, try Tequila Corralejo Blanco (355 NOK). It won the Gold Medal last year in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition! Here is a recipe for margaritas to serve 8: 355 ml tequila, 120 ml triple sec or Cointreau and 235 ml of lime juice. This is the perfect true margarita. Mix and serve with ice. You can also toss it all in the blender for the frozen version.

The perfect blend for this casual fiesta is some easy, fuss-free food. Think Mexican tapas: soft tacos, homemade salsa and guacamole, and super cheesy quesadillas.

Quacamole to die for:
3 medium avocados, mashed
2 large tomatoes, seeded and diced
64 grams diced onion
3 Tablespoons minced corinader/cilantro
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 small jalapeno seeded and minced
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Combine everything and season to taste! Cover and let sit at least 30 min before serving.

Chicken Tacos from scratch!:
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon chile powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1 kg chicken breasts, cut into thin strips.
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Combine lemon juice, chile powder, garlic in a bowl and let it sit for a few minutes. Add chicken and throughly coat with the sauce. Let marinate for 1 hour in refrigerate. Heat the oil in a skillet and saute chicken until cooked. Serve with cheese, shredded lettuce, salsa, guacamole, sliced jalapenos and lime.

Cilantro-Lime Rice (for a little something on the side):
450 ml rice
120 ml chopped cilantro
60 ml fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest
salt

Cook rice with normal directions. Place cooked rice in a bowl. Toss with all and season with salt to taste. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

And of course some dessert :)

Mexican Chocolate Cake
2 packages of American brownie mix
225 ml vegetable oil
6 eggs
2 tbsp instant coffee
225 ml dark chocolate chips
3 tbsp coffee-flavored liquer (Kahlua)

icing: 550 ml cold cream
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
100 ml candy confetti

Heat oven to 175 C. Grease two round cake pans. Mix brownie mix, oil, eggs, coffee and 60ml water. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter into two pans. Bake until cooked through (35-40 minutes). Place on a wire rack to completely cool. Slice cool cakes in half horizontally and brush with coffee liqueur.
Beat cream in a chilled bowl for 1-2 minutes, add sugar and vanilla. Continue to beat until whipped cream. Place one layer on cake platter, spread with icing. Repeat with all layers. Frost all sides when finished. Chill for 30 minutes, sprinkle with candy!

Enjoy the margaritas and Cinco de Mayo!

Soirée for Leslie

2009-04-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

This party was a few years ago, but still very, if not even more, relevant given the economic climate. It is so nice to throw a small party for a friend, lover or family member. It can be very simple, yet very elegant even at home.

Set the table with just a few colors to make it neat and chic. I went with white and gold with a touch of green. I always like to have a full dining set in white, as it goes with everything and always make the food look good. It is also very easily dressed up with candle light.

This dinner party was for 8. We served a starter of gnudi, made wildly popular in NYC by The Spotted Pig, with my mom's pesto sauce, arugula salad with a citrus dressing, a pork loin stuffed with spinach and goat cheese and sauteed carrots. Color all over the menu! I am a firm believer in place settings for any occasion and while Norwegians are very good at asking which place is theirs before sitting down, it can add just a little something extra to create place cards. These were just simple cards, folded in half over the bowls. Napkins were tied with gold ribbon.
Then of course a simple vanilla cake, loads of candles, and champers for dessert. I loved the champagne glasses with star fruit as a garnish. It made the Moet even more special.

Go throw someone who deserves a dinner party- even just for two- this weekend! God Helg. :)

Diane Takes The Cake

2009-04-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

The thing about parties in fashion cities is that you can dress up to your hearts desire every time. Sequins, lace, short, long, sky high heels, loads of mascara and fake lashes. "Fancy" cities are the best and the New Yorkers did not let me down last night. Diane Kruger looked insanely gorgeous last night at the New Yorkers for Children Spring Dinner Dance. And I must say her man Josh looked mighty handsome at her side.

I am obsessed with the short Marchesa number. Love the lilac, love the feathers, reminds me of frosting. :) And the shoes, ohhh the shoes! She looks gorg.

P.S. Olivia looked boring, but I try to be nice, so you will have to find that image yourself.

(Image from gettyimages)

American Womens Anniversary Gala

2009-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

I will be the chair for the committee for the 75th Anniversary Gala for the American Women's Club! I am so honored and excited to plan such a huge event for the organization. We have solidified most of the plans and I am very excited. The gala will be held at the Grand Hotel starting with an aperitif served in Palmen (The Palm Court) and the dinner and dancing in Speilsalen (The Mirror Room). (See all of the gorgeous pictures below!) We have booked the fantastic and highly recommended band Funky Town. I have high hopes for them and I will let you know how they are!

Palmen (Palm Court)

Speilsalen (Mirror Room)

Looking forward to creating the rest of the evening for the members including some door prizes, speeches, songs, dancing and more. This is such a fun project for me this year and it is basically within the same timeline as my wedding- plus I have a team- so I know we can put together a great night.

Pictures of the Grand from Grand(dot)no

Wedding!

2008-11-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting around to post some of the pictures from my wedding! It was (here comes the cliche) the BEST day of my life. I wanted a party and that's exactly the feeling the whole night had. With the exception of the pouring rain all morning, the day went perfectly and smoothly. Here are just a few pictures from the evening from my fantastic photographer Leyla Sharabi.

My amazing make-up was done by Mari O'Connor from New York. I highly recommend her for a natural, yet chic look. She was a pleasure to work with!

The gorgeous flowers were done by Dejuan Stroud Floral Design. They did a perfect job. I was so impressed and I have still not thrown my bouquet away. I carried it all the way from New York to Oslo and now its hanging upside down in storage. I just cannot bear to part with it. It was magnificant.

These were my two favorite pictures. I hope they exude style and a New York state of mind. It was definitely what I was aiming for :)!

Soirée for Bjørn

2008-09-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

This party was planned by my fantastic mother-in-law as a soirée for my father-in-law's 60th. It was a very wonderful evening filled with great music. The performers were charismatic and wonderful to watch. They are from the TV show Beat for Beat and were perfect for entertainment and a show rather than dancing. See the clip below:

Love the white carpet entrance. Makes guests feel special while drawing attention to the entrance! White was such a fresh change from red!

Obviously guests having a great time is very important! Although we were not the target audience our table had a blast.

Great lighting and atmosphere!

The hostess (farthest lady on the left) with her family.

Pølse with all of the trimmings! Probably the most important aspect to a Norwegian soirée. A must have for 1:00 (or later...) We also had them at our wedding after-party in New York and they were all snapped up.

Soirée Parfaite

2008-09-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

As an American lady living in Oslo, Norway I miss the anticipation, style and meticulous thought that always will come in expectation of a soirée parfaite in New York, Los Angeles, London, of course Paris, and other fabulous cities in the world. Through color, style, design, fashion and food I hope to bring a little of this flair to Norway!